JAMES BROWN
Age: 48 Lives: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk Job title(s): Senior Emergency Medical Technician, Carp fishery owner, electrician
AS WELL as being a licensed electrician and the owner of Norfolk’s popular Highbridge Fisheries, James Brown is also a proud Senior Emergency Medical Technician for the NHS.
The role is a stressful one which involves driving a response vehicle at high speed to give medical care to those who need it, and now has the added pressure of dealing with people infected with Covid-19.
“When I’m running the fishery and the electrical business, I normally only work six shifts a month for the ambulance service, but I’ve now offered myself up to do as many shifts as they need me for,” he tells us.
“I’m sad for the deaths of so many people and obviously I’m scared I’ll get the virus, but I have to help where I can.”
In the event that James does become ill
he’s already made plans for two of his close fishing friends to look after his beloved Highbridge complex.
“I’d been focused on improving our syndicate for a while and things were going well,” he says.
“We were looking at bringing in three different 40lb carp this year and I was hopeful of another 4lb roach catch. The fishery is famous for producing huge roach, so the cormorant problems have been my biggest focus.
“While we were issued a licence to use lethal force, the best and most humane way to deal with these birds is having members on the banks to act as a deterrent.
“As the fishery is an artificial irrigation reservoir with limited natural resources, I’ve had to buy a ton of feed to keep the fish as happy as possible at this vital time of year.
“It’s been a setback financially but it had to be done.”
Despite everything that is happening, James is still looking forward to getting back on the bank when the crisis finally blows over.
He adds: “I’ll either be floatfishing some luncheon meat next to a marginal lily bed, casting my beachcaster off a Spanish beach with a beer in hand or wading through a Scottish river with a fly rod.”
“I’ve had to buy a ton of feed to keep the fish happy”